Progressive Aerodyne is one of the original suppliers of light, sporting aircraft, dating back 15 years, well before the emergence of this newest segment of aviation. That gives this Florida-based company experience not only in the production of light aircraft but with American consumers. Most other seaplanes in this sector are imported and while they may be fine flying machines, none can match the all-American nature of Progressive Aerodyne's SeaRey LSX and SeaRey Sport. The LSX is the ELSA kit version and the Sport is the new fully-built SLSA model.

The company success in the market is notable, with almost 500 units flying, but numbers alone don't communicate the passion of this brand and its principle model. SeaRey pilots compose one of the tightest communities imaginable. Those who've built their own kit are unusually willing to help one another. And after completion, they enjoy flying together and socializing together in a way other brands can only hope to foster. Ask a SeaRey pilot yourself and you'll quickly get the message; it's almost a religion.

Being part of the SeaRey group is great (and rare) but the reasons for the passion of its many owners are the flying qualities and well-proven nature of this veteran design which has evolved steadily from its two-stroke engine days to the modern version powered by the four-stroke Rotax 912S. Whether you love flying to a neighboring lake to visit friends or you care to venture out a few states, SeaRey LSX will get you to your destination in style.

Most pilots never probably have witnessed the testing a wing endures before designers and regulators will sign off on it, signaling that it has been adequately stressed so that pilots can depend on it.August 25, 2016

We spoke with SportairUSA founder, Bill Canino, who represents a broad and varied line of Light-Sport Aircraft… all of which just happen to begin with the letter “S.” We wanted to inform you about all these quality airplanes but we also wanted to ask Bill about all SportUSA’s activities including their Arkansas FBO and a flock of interesting accessories items, some of which are available for other brands.August 19, 2016

Icon recently won FAA acceptance as the California company demonstrated meeting ASTM standards for their A5 seaplane and made a big show out of delivering the first airplane to EAA Young Eagles … the same move, by the way, as Cessna did with their Skycatcher.August 5, 2015

While some beautiful looking LSA seaplanes have captured lots of attention — here I am thinking of Icon’s vigorously promoted A5, the unusually capable MVP, the highly innovative Wave, and Finland’s ATOL … all of which have some fascinating features — all but one of these share one feature: you can’t get one yet.March 5, 2015

At the big show EAA likes to call the Summer Celebration of Flight, we rove the grounds seeking new airplanes, new engines or propulsion systems, new panel gear, updated models and more.August 12, 2014

Consider this an entry to the “They-said-it-couldn’t-be-done” department. As regular readers know, FAA has been conducting audits with LSA producers… tough, top-to-bottom reviews of every detail in the voluminous ASTM standard set.November 9, 2012

What’s going on out in the marketplace? More than any time since the launch of Light-Sport Aircraft in 2004, I have not observed such a frenzy of activity for a particular niche, this time for LSA seaplanes.October 2, 2012

To the answer “Progressive Aerodyne!” comes the Jeopardy question, “What LSA company thumbs its nose at the bad economy?” *** Certainly one of the most-fun LSA flights I’ve had in some time came at the controls of that company’s SeaRey amphibian.My LSA pal Dan Johnson recently wrote up a piece on the amphib which spurred me to excerpt some highlights in advance of my own flight report on the lively sea bird coming soon in Plane & Pilot magazine.February 28, 2011

Here’s a glancing blow at some products you might want to check out in depth: *** A cute new LSA named Viper SD-4 showed up, beautifully built (in Slovenia) and should be very attractive to anyone who likes the conventional approach of an all-metal airframe done in the traditional way — with a modern technological boost.January 22, 2011